Description

Vintage old banded tribal kilim woven from 100% natural wool –including the warp & weft, which is typical for many village weavings.

Overall condition is very good with some minor wear and a few faint areas of dye diffusion from the bold orange (shown in CU photo).

Woven in most likely in Iran or Afghanistan — although nomadic people traditionally crossed international borders on their migrations.

The main colors, woven from un-dyed natural wool, are an off white and a dark brown. Accent colors include purple, olive green, blue, and orange.

This is a tribal kelim, a type of flat-weave textile, and not a typical pile rug. Since it is more supple than a rug, it would not be ideal for any slippery floor with active foot traffic.

These are woven on traditional wooden looms by hand, and are made for family and local use. Very finely woven from wool, a material which is challenging to render into such refined knots.

It could be placed on the floor in a quiet area such as a bedroom or office or used in a den or playroom, used as a yoga pad, or even mounted on the wall as a tapestry.

Kilims are favored by nomadic tribal people because they are easier to fold and carry than pile rugs. They are placed on the ground and used to sit on, eat, and drink tea.

The exact size is 12 ft. 5 in. by 4 ft. 5 in. 1940s.

The design is reminiscent of some Navajo and Southwestern textiles but not through the act of copying; this is a result of the ‘tribal eye’– human aesthetics– crafting similar patterns using related materials and techniques.